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One aspect of my work is concerned with computational processes underlying Pavlovian conditioning. Another strand of research addresses the nature of neural coding in the somatosensory system, and how this is affected by concurrent visual input.

Neural and behavioural mechanisms underlying associative learning.

Summary

My current interests are concerned with the processes that underlie Pavlovian conditioning, in particular the extinction and inhibition of responding. This topic is investigated with behavioural experiments in rats as well as neurophysiological experiments using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in humans.

Supervisor(s)

Research Location

Program Type

Masters/PHD

Synopsis

Learning about relations among events is crucial for the survival of any complex organism, allowing it to use the past to predict the future and adjust its behaviour accordingly. Pavlovian conditioning is an attempt to bring such relations into the laboratory in order to isolate those that produce learning, describe its contents, and specify its influences on behaviour. I am interested in understanding the content of such simple learning - how the events are represented and what is learned about the relationships between those events. I study these questions using a simple behavioural paradigm with rats. I also use Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in humans to investigate conditioned excitation and inhibition within the motor system.